Sanford M Gage Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Los Angeles, CA EIN: 95-4656529

Sanford M Gage Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 filing reports 18 grants totaling $164,255, supporting organizations including arts and cultural groups, an addiction recovery organization, and charitable and research organizations.

Sanford M Gage Foundation at a glance

In short: Sanford M Gage Foundation gave $164K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in California. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$164,255
+10.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
18
-18.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$9,125
+35.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$296,155
+1.4% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
56% first-time grantees (10 of 18, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
California (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Sanford M Gage Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 10284 Century Woods Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 276-0904

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Sanford M Gage Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

La Chamber Orchestra: $75KLa Chamber Orchestra$75KBeit T'shuvah: $54KBeit T'shuvah$54KJewish Federation: $13KJewish Federation$13KThe Noise Within: $5KThe Noise Within$5KMuseique: $5KMuseique$5KThe Music Center: $4KThe Music Center$4KLa Opera: $3KLa Opera$3KConcern Foundation: $2KConcern Foundation$2KStart Early: $1KStart Early$1KLa Philharmonic: $1KLa Philharmonic$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was La Chamber Orchestra ($75K). Together the top 10 received $162K.

Grant Size Distribution

85 grants across all recorded years

82<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 85 (96%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 1% to recipients in Illinois, and less than 1% to recipients in Montana.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.

Cities

Los AngelesNew YorkPasadenaMontgomeryWashingtonBeverly HillsChicagoVeniceArlingtonCypressEncinoKenwoodMemphisMissoulaMuriettaPlacentiaRestonSan RafaelSanta MonicaSilverton

Is Sanford M Gage Foundation open to new grantees?

56%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 10 of 18 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $750 first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 340% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 433% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K27 grants2020 18 grants2021 22 grants2023 18 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $37K (2021) to $164K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $164K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
La Chamber Orchestra Los Angeles, CACommunity Cultural Enrichment$75,000
Beit T'shuvah Los Angeles, CARehab for Addicts$53,636
Jewish Federation Los Angeles, CASupports Various Charitable Programs$12,500
The Noise Within Pasadena, CACommunity Cultural Enrichment$5,000
Museique Pasadena, CANon Profit Performing Art Org$5,000
The Music Center Los Angeles, CACommunity Music Enrichment$3,500
La Opera Pasadena, CACommunity Cultural Enrichment$3,437
Concern Foundation Los Angeles, CACancer Research$1,500
Start Early Chicago, ILProvide low income families with early learning and care$1,000
La Philharmonic Los Angeles, CACommunity Cultural Enrichment$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$296,155$129,287$164,496$164,25518$164,255$129,287$37,941
2023$292,005$193,587$152,117$148,06722$148,067$13,587$30,058
2021$335,083$5,131$40,338$37,29018—$15,061$32,195
2020$370,291$17,395$84,196$80,64827—$17,359$27,311

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sanford M Gage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Beit T’Shuvah describes its mission as bringing psychological and spiritual healing to people and families affected by addiction and other destructive behaviors. Muse/Ique says it creates live music events and outreach programs to engage communities and inspire music lovers. Concern Foundation says it distributes research grants worldwide to fund cancer research. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave 18 grants totaling $164,255. Grant amounts ranged from $75 to $75,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grants included $75,000 to LA Chamber Orchestra and $53,636 to Beit T’Shuvah, both in Los Angeles; $12,500 to Jewish Federation; and $5,000 each to The Noise Within and MuseIque.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Sanford M. Gage as president and Pat Train Gage as secretary and CFO.

Sanford M Gage Foundation is led by Sanford M. Gage, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Sanford M. Gage

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Pat Train Gage

    Secretary & CFO

    Secretary & C.f.o. → Secretary & CFO, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Sanford M Gage Foundation

How much does Sanford M Gage Foundation give each year?

Sanford M Gage Foundation gave $164K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $148K across 22 grants.

What is Sanford M Gage Foundation's typical grant size?

Sanford M Gage Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $9,125, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sanford M Gage Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Sanford M Gage Foundation give grants?

Sanford M Gage Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (10 grants) and Pasadena, CA (3 grants).

Does Sanford M Gage Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Sanford M Gage Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Cultural Enrichment" (4 grants).

Who are Sanford M Gage Foundation's largest grantees?

Sanford M Gage Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include La Chamber Orchestra ($75,000), Beit T'shuvah ($53,636) and Jewish Federation ($12,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Sanford M Gage Foundation?

Sanford M Gage Foundation reported $296K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $164K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $38K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Sanford M Gage Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Beit T’Shuvah describes its mission as bringing psychological and spiritual healing to people and families affected by addiction and other destructive behaviors. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Sanford M Gage Foundation?

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Sanford M Gage Foundation's EIN?

Sanford M Gage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4656529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Sanford M Gage Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Sanford M Gage Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sanford-m-gage-foundation-morg_8480a630b786428ba1e7018966ec051e

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954656529_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Sanford M Gage Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/sanford-m-gage-foundation-morg_8480a630b786428ba1e7018966ec051e},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Sanford M Gage Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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